- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

It's a Canadian dream - owning your own business on a little piece of land with trees, close to the water. That's what I told Timcy Lamba as I sat with her at The Spirit Rock Outpost and Lodge just north of Wiarton.

The Lodge has been a family business for most of its history. Timcy and Richy Lamba are carrying on that tradition, and living their dream.

The family chose Canada twelve years ago because, Timcy said "I have been a peace lover as long as I can remember, and I knew in Canada we could stay away from conflict." They came to Brampton first because Richy had an uncle there. Back in India, Richy was a textile and fashion designer working as a merchandiser for an export firm. In Canada he worked for a big retailer for 11 years. After starting at Walmart, five months later Timcy found work in her own field, with a chartered accountant, and then with a local newspaper.

In the same week in February 2017 both of them were laid off, quite unexpectedly. Rather than be discouraged, Timcy said, "We took it as an opportunity."

Both Timcy and Richy come from business families. "In my whole family, no one ever had a job," she laughed. "They all ran their own businesses. So we knew we could do it too."

"We started to look for a good opportunity - we went to Ottawa, North Bay, Sudbury, even Niagara. As soon as we came here - it instantly felt like home."

The Spirit Rock was within their budget, in a safe place with good schools, and close to Sauble, the Lamba's "most favourite beach". The deal on the business closed March 2, 2018 –one year and one month after they stopped being employees.

Like so many immigrants before them,Timcy and Richy had their eyes on their children's future when they came to Canada. Fifteen year old Jasnoor had just finished her first semester at Mayfield Secondary School, having won a place in their highly coveted visual arts program. As her mother, Timcy was concerned about how the move to Bruce County would affect Jasnoor who is passionate about her art, but she has found a good art program and teachers, as well as a welcoming school, in Owen Sound at OSDSS.

Nine year old Sidak is happily headed to grade five at Peninsula Shores this September.

The whole community, Timcy says, has been warm and welcoming.

The space where we were sitting will soon be a restaurant as it was in the past; a cafe with sandwiches, hot and cold beverages and baking, and Indian dinners on the weekends. "Curries of the day, with vegetarian options available, fresh every day," says Timcy, clearly eager to get into the kitchen they are renovating. I turn to Richy and ask "Is she a good cook?" He grins and nods - "She is the BEST cook." If the dinners are well received, they may become a daily feature.

There are 11 rooms at the Lodge - four queens, three with two double beds, and four family rooms that can easily hold five. Everyone gets continental breakfast and access to a kitchenette and barbecues.

And for those who want the camping experience but maybe not on the ground, there are two bell tents with a wood floor and a double bed, big windows and lanterns. They will be available from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving.

The Outpost is a well known source of all-season fishing, hunting and camping supplies, and while I was there some customers walked right to the tackle they needed. They even rent full camping equipment for a family, from tents to cooking pots.

Right now they are planning to have the business open until Christmas Eve, and then perhaps take the month of January for themselves.

I did wonder about the winter. Where the Lambas come from in the Punjab, 2° would be very cold. When they arrived in Canada in March of 2006, it was -14, and they've grown used to the Grey-Bruce climate.

I can see that Grey Bruce will be warming up to these newcomers long before winter comes again.

Find the Spirit Rock Outpost and Lodge on Facebook.